Diabetes is a disease of too much sugar (glucose) in the blood. In Type 2 diabetes this is caused by insulin resistance and abnormal insulin production by the pancreas. Insulin is a hormone that moves sugar from the blood into the cells where it is needed for energy. Insulin resistance means that the insulin is less effective at moving the sugar out of the blood and into the cells. 95% of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes, previously known as juvenile diabetes, is an auto immune disease where the body’s immune system attacks the insulin producing cells in the pancreas and destroys them, causing the body not to produce insulin.
Following diabetes closely to achieve blood sugars as near normal as possible is important for decreasing the risk and severity of complications of diabetes. You can check your own blood sugar wherever you are with a portable device called a glucometer. This will allow you and your doctor to know how your sugar is doing at various times of the day and when you are not feeling well. Diabetes can also increase your risk of a number of other diseases including gum disease, heart disease and kidney disease. People with diabetes are at increased risk of foot injury and retinopathy, a disease which can lead to decreased vision or blindness. Which is why it is important to stay on top of your diabetic exams and take precautionary steps to effectively manage your diabetes.
Community Care Physicians offers Diabetes Education at our Diabetes and Nutrition Center and you can contact our Pharmacist for any questions on how to use your blood glucose monitor or any other questions you may have regarding your diabetes medication. For this, and more information on properly monitoring and controlling your diabetes, blood glucose monitoring, lifestyle modifications, medications, diabetic foot care, diabetic eye exams, and diabetic education and resources, see the links provided.
Useful Links
communitycare.com/Ask A Pharmacist
Community Care Physicians’ pharmacist offers a wide range of patient care services. Our pharmacist is available to both patients and non-patients of Community Care Physicians Contact us during normal business hours for more information. The pharmacist is available by phone or in person to answer questions you may have.
communitycare.com/Diabetes Education
Our Diabetes Program at Community Care Physicians is recognized by the American Diabetes Association and provides state-of-the-art training and self-management education to all people with diabetes and their families.
The mission of the American Diabetes Association is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention keeps you informed on what’s new with diabetes by providing you with data and statistics, programs and initiatives, information on managing diabetes, research, resources, and publications.
The National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) works with partners to reduce the burden of diabetes and prediabetes by facilitating the adoption of proven approaches to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes and the complications of diabetes. NDEP is a joint program of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health.
Type-2-Diabetes-Risk-Reduction2016.pdf
Your resource for the risk factors of diabetes and the lifestyle modifications you can make to reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Type-2-Diabetes-Fact-Sheet.pdf
This fact sheet provides you with information you need to know about monitoring and managing your diabetes including facts about medications, diabetic exams, and risk factors for other diseases.